The Greatest Batsman of all time. Has been playing for over 20 years. Made his debut at the age of 16. Highest score in ODIs: 200* off only 147 balls, against South Africa in 2010. Most test centuries (47), most ODI centuries (46), most runs in tests (13,447), most runs in ODIs (17,594).

Has scored hundreds against all Test playing nations, with the most hundreds coming against Australia (10), the undisputed number one test team of the 90s and 00s.

Went through an appalling phase in the mid 2000s, when he suffered from a tennis elbow. Critics were quick to rip into him(Ian Chappell and Sanjay Manjrekar), who called for his retirement and referred to him as living in delusion. Given a return to amazing form since 2007/2008 though, they are now eating their words.

As of March 2010, has scored 4 Test Centuries on the trot.

His only competition is Donald Bradman, considered the greatest of all time, with an average of 99.94.

But did Bradman face McGrath, Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Muralitharan, Shane Warne, Heath Streak, Dale Steyn, Brett Lee, Shoaib Akhtar, Allan Donald, Curtly Ambrose, Courtney Walsh at their peak? Did Bradman bat for over 20 years, and play ODI and T20 cricket along with Tests (which included rest days back then).

Nasser Hussain, Richard Hadleee, Sunil Gavaskar, Tony Greig and the whole of India regard him as being the greatest of all time.

Richie Benuad regards him as being the best since Bradman.

Matthew Hayden: I have seen GOD , he bats at no.4 for india in Tests. (on Sachin Tendulkar)